And the winner of the video that’s going to give me weird nightmares about cats award goes to… (opens envelope) Kristeen Young “Catland”. This might actually be one of the most of the box songs I’ve covered in a long time, but there’s an undeniable spirit to the song that will worm its way into your head for days to come. Definitely worth checking out.

The Whisky Circle’s “Sweet Darlin'” takes all the best elements of bar-room country and adds a thick layer of Shoegazer distortion for good measure. Vocalist Leanna Patterson summons up a great witchy vibe that rides over the top of one of the best rhythm sections I’ve heard in ages. Definitely going to have to check out the rest of their new album “Into the Valley”

Swedish Death Candy’s new single “Last Dream” is buzzy and dreamy, just the kind of song to lull you into the coming malase of autumn slumber. Pulling elements from Shoegazer to Stoner Metal, the song has the kind of riffs that Billy Corgan wishes he still did.

Leather Girls’ “She” comes out of nowhere with a Bo Diddly shuffle and enough enough distortion to make a shoegaze act jealous. It’s an ear grabbing, toe tapping, undeniable catchy buzz saw of a single from a band that is just doing everything right.

What can I say about Ramonda Hammer that I haven’t already said in the umpteen times that I’ve feared them on this humble blog. Right towards the top of my favorite bands making music out there right now. Go buy all their music!

While, Pop Occulture in and of itself isn’t a politically leaning blog. I think that these days there’s at least one thing that most people can agree to and that is, it’s okay to punch Nazis. This catchy little number that recalls some of the best 90s riotgrrl acts, hits just that spot. (a Nazi’s face) Over and over again in such a desirably cathartic way, that maybe, just maybe every non-Nazi will finally be able to come together under a common flag and make like 40’s Captain ‘Merica and beat some National Socialists to a pulp.

New York’s Megaweapon occupies the space between indie rock and 90’s feminist punk. With humongous hooks and and undeniably poppy sound, “I Won’t Die” will have you chanting along with the chorus by the end of the song.

Iowa’s hardest working man in show-business is back with the sophomore effort from his most recent project Gloom Balloon. For those of you unfamiliar with his body of work, Patrick Tape lemming has toured the country many times over with the Elephant 6 flavored psychedelia of the Poison Control Center. With the latest band however, he along with Chris Ford (of Christopher the Conquered) have built up a world of distorted minimalist beatboxes, and intricate orchestration lead by Christopher’s horn playing into a new kind of post-psychedelia that’s both emotionally devastating yet uplifting.

With their new album, they have taken this world into what sounds like a mid-70’s recording studio with tinges of production techniques straight off of a Lennon or Nilsson album from that period. While this flavors the album, it’s unmistakably a continuation of their 2013 debut album “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Disaster/Fix The Sunshine Pts. 1-7 (An Ode To Bill Doss)”, in it’s ability to create cathartic and deeply personal songs into songs that you’ll want to listen to on repeat for days. “Drying the Eyes of the Goddess of Gloom Underneath the Stars and the Moon” comes out soon on Maximum Ames Records. The first 100 people will get a bunch of interesting bonuses for ordering the vinyl, so order soon!

Based off of the cult classic Emilio Estevez movie Repo Man*, Toronto’s Dearly Beloved presents us with “These Data / RIP” video/short film which recreates a lot of the head-scratching surrealness of the original movie. The songs themselves are buzzy, rippers, that often boarder just this side of sludgy. Definitely a band that needs to be investigated further.

* Which, honestly, if you haven’t watched. Go rent it, listen to the soundtrack a few dozen times and then come back.

Probably the most consistently great bands to grace Pop Occulture, Ramonda Hammer’s “Too Much, Too Recently” is just as emotionally raw and amazingly blistering as their last single “Bender”. “Too Much…” has about as much drama and emotional gravity as you can fit into a song, the blistering solo that hits right around the 2:30 mark is well worth the price of admission.